Sealed lighting unit and electric incandescent lamp therefor



1949. 1.. w. CURTIS 2,459,151

SEALED LIGHTING UNIT AND ELECTRiU INCANDESCENT LAMP THEREFOR Filed. Sept. 28, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

Lori/7 14 Cur/1's His A Horneys Patented Jan. 18, 1949 SEALED LIGHTING UNIT AND ELECTRIC IN CANDESCENT LAMP THEREFOR Lorin W. Curtis, Verona, N. J assignor to Tung- Sol Lamp Works Inc., Newark, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application September 28, 1945; Serial No. 619,046

This invention relates to sealed lighting units and incandescent lamps therefor.

More particularly this invention relates to the type of scaled lighting units wherein a reflector is soldered and sealed to the base of an electric incandescent lamp after the lamp is adjusted to bring the filament source into the desired focal relationship with the reflector, and one object of the invention is a novel and improved lighting unit of this character.

A further object of the invention is a novel and improved incandescent lamp for lighting units of the above indicated character which is characterized by its simplicity in construction, its low cost of manufacture and by its more satisfactory means of connection with the electric supply circuit.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understandin of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, wherein Fig. 1 contains views illustrating a lighting unit embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through a socket usable with this lighting unit.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as being embodied in a lighting unit comprising a reflector l and a lens 2, it being understood that the reflector I may be of any conventional projecting type and that the lens 2 may be of any conventional type. The reflector I and the lens 2 are joined together at their peripheral edges by any conventional watertight seal. the details of such seal being omitted for convenience in illustration. The reflector is provided with a circular opening in the back just large enough to accommodate the base 4 of an incandescent lamp 3, there being suflicient play between the reflector opening I and the base 4 to permit the adjustment of the lamp 3 to bring the filament 3 into the desired focal relationship with respect to the reflector I. Upon arrivin atjf such adjustment the lamp base 4 is mechanically fastened and anchored in position by means of a ring of solder l disposed about the periphery of the base at the outer edge of the opening formed in the reflector. This forms a water-tight seal between the reflector I and the outside surface of the base 4.

In the particular embodiment shown the base 4 is provided with a contact 5 at its end, rigidly 4 Claims. (Cl. 176-34) fixed and sealed in the end of the base, for supplying electrical energy to the filament 3, namely, to one end of the single filament 3 illustrated in the embodiment shown. For this purpose a leading-in wire 8 is electrically connected with the contact 5. The other lead-in wire for the filament 3' is grounded in any conventional manner to the base 4 and thence through the mechanical and electrical connection at 1 to the reflector l.

The shell of the base 4 is of conventional form, namely closed at its outer end except for an opening for the reception of a conventional eyelet 5 to which the lead-in wire 8 is soldered to form the contact 5. This eyelet and contact are insulatedly mounted within the opening formed in the end wall of the shell by means of any suitable insulating material as, for example, of glass 4', which is contained in the outer end of the shell and is molded therein to iorm a lass insulator surrounding the eyelet and anchoring the eyelet and the contact 5 in fixed po-, This mount thus forms a substantially sition. water-tight seal at the outer end of the bulb. The shell is also provided at its outer end with a fastening groove such, 'for example, as the groove 6 which forms a radial inwardly extending projection for anchoring or assisting in anchoring the insulator 4' within the outer end of the base. The insulating material 4 may be caused during the molding operation to flow only partially about the walls of the fastening grooves 6, 6' or wholly about them so lon as it does not extend far enough to foul the sealed end of the bulb 3. Even a partial flow about these Walls is ordinarily sufiicient to anchor the insulator 4 firmly against the inner surface of the outer end wall of the base and thereby to hold the eyelet l5 and the contact 5 firmly in operative position.

The metal at the groove 6 is not pierced so that the shell of the base 4 is imperfo-rate throughout its outer peripheral surface. Moreover the groove 6 does not interfere with the adjustment of the lamp within the opening I of the reflector for focusing the filament 3 while the water-tight seal 1 may be formed and maintained as described above. The groove 6 thus performs the multiple functions of providing an attachment means for a socket or similar readily detachable connector, of anchoring or assisting in anchoring the insulating material 4 against relative movement in the shell, of enabling the free adjustment of the lamp base Within the openin I of the reflector, of maintaining the shell of the base 4 imperforate On its outer periphery, etc. The imperforate groove 6 may be easily and inexpensively formed in the shell of the base before the assembly of the base parts.

The imperforate groove 6 may be of any suitable character for facilitating the fastening of a detachable electrical connector. to. the lighting unit. In. the particular embodiment shownthis imperforate groove is J-shapecl having a long stem part extending inwardly from the outer edge:

of the base longitudinally thereof and. a.v right angle part merging with the'stemrpart outwardly extending short part it". I have devised a quick and easily detachable-connector In for connecting and disconnecting Wire source of electrical energy with the lamp 3. This connector comprises an outer shell having aniinwarde ly extending pin or tit I? which upon insertion of the connector over the projecting end of'the base 4 is caused to enter: the groove 6 and upon thepinor tit l ireaching the innermost end-of the stem part ofthe groove 6, the connectori If!" is givena slight rotation to bring the tip or pininto: theulocking part 6': of the groove. The con nector may; be. readily. disconnected; from: the lighting unit by pushing inwardly onthe-connector Ii). to bring the pin or tit- 4''! out of the locking part 6-" of the. groove and then giving the connector a slight reverse rotation' to bring the tit into the outlet or stem part of the groove".

whereupon the socket may be removed by the straight pullaway fromthe lighting unit;

As. indicated. above the member or part H may be, either a pin riveted in position to project beyond the inner surface of "the connecting'sheli or it may be a tit or indentation formed by pressing inwardly on the shell of the connectorwith suitable tools at this point.

low.cost as thisma-y be easily eifected by machine and. tool operations. A single fastening and anchoring groove 6 may be sufiicienttofirmly holdathee connector in in operative positionbut there arezillustrated. a pair of these groovesdis posed 180 from each other with a correspondingpair of. tits. i! also spaced 180 from each other about the'shell-of the connector Hi. The part ofithe. shell l B-that telescopesthe base 4 is formed vvithslotswlz. which in turn form spring-like-shell segments ll frictionally gripping the base and facilitating the attaching, detaching and-:holding functions. In the particular embodiment'shown there are four of these slots'formingfourseg. ments H I and these slots extend-a sufiicient distance to give the necessary spring grippingfuncing a disc i3 freely movable in theshell and through. this disc i3- extends the stem of the contactv M for centering the contact. On the side-of the disc t3 oppositethe contact i4-is dis posed-aninsulating sleeve i5 and a biasing spring lfiwengages this sleeve 45- at one end and engages the left-hand end. of the shell of the connector at. its other. end.

base-v 4. thespring l6. biases the tit l1. into the locking part 6 of the anchoring grooveandalso. presses. the contact l firmly against the contact 5;. The. left-handend it of the. shell of. the:

The latter is the. preferable. method. because of its. simplicity and-v When the connector is con-. nected. and detachably fastened to the lampconnector is reduced in diameter as shown in the drawings.

Iclaim:

1. An incandescent lamp for a sealed lighting unit comprising a reflector having an opening therein for the reception of the lamp, said lamp having abasewhich is freely in'sertalqle through said opening and is: scalable-therein in -fi'xed position with respect to the reflector'with the end of the base projecting beyond the reflector and adapted to. receive. a socket-like electrical connector; saidib'ase having a fixed contact on the end thereof for supplying electrical energy to the fi'l'amentfof the'lampiwhen the connector is attached and 'compris'ing a shell which contains in its'outer'end and adjacent said fixed contact an. insulatingfillenmaterial and said shell having on its outer surface an inwardly formed grooveanchoring said insulating means against relative movement in tlie shell and adapted to accommodate. arr. attaching and holding; device 2; An incandescentlamp for a sealed lightingg unit. comprising. a reflector haying antopening. therein for the reception":otthelamp, said damp. having a base which is freely insertablegthroughsaidopening andissealable-therein in fixed positionyrith. respect? to the-reflector :with the end of the base-projecting; beyondthe reflector and adaptedto-receive -azsocket-like electrical. con-.- nector, saidibase :having: a @fixed: contactaon the end: thereof for supplying-electrical. energyto the filament of the lamp when the -;connectcr -isv attached and comprising, a shell which contains in its outer end and adjacent said fixedcon-tact an insulating filler. material and saidishell having onits? outersurface. aminwardly formed-i groove? anchoring said insulating means against: relative movement in the shell and! adaptedto-t accommodatean attachin andh olding device 5 carried by said socket connectorgsaid groovebe ginnin at the end of the base and havingpa guiding part extending generally longitudinally;- of the base, a rearwarolly' extending lockinggpart circumferentially" spa'ced! therefrom: and an; in-- termediatearcuate1- part connecting?the guiding part and the'lockingipart. V 1 Y 3; A sealed lighting unit comprising areflector; havinguaniopening in'the rea'r thereof and a lens sealed. on the front to closeitsca-vity andsub-- stantially preventthe admission-of moisture-nan incandescent lamp assembly havin-g a smooth cylindrical: base". freely; insertablegi in saidv opem ing: for adjustment relative tothe reflector, said base extending through; and beyond said.- OQBH': ingfor cooperationwithv awso'cket part, moisture; sealing means'retaining the base in -its adjustedposition in said opening to. form aisubstam tia'lly hermetically sealed one-piece lighting;

unit; a fixed contacton'the outer'endofzthe base for supplying electriccurrentto the lampvwhen":

the socket part: is attached thereto,- and insulateing; means. within said .basef or fixedly support-. ing the contact, said base and: insulating means having on their outer. surfaces .cor1"-esponding-urnwardly, projecting grooves cooperating: one: with? the other: to prevent relative movementibetweent the. base. andsaid: insulating ma-terialaand; for: attachment of said.- sockemipart; comprisinga: guiding: part beginning. at. the; end; of: the? base and disposed substantially longitudinally there-.

. 5 of. a rearwardly extending groove spaced therefrom and an intermediate arcuate groove conmeeting the inner ends of said longitudinal grooves.

4. A sealed lighting unit comprising a reflector having an opening in the rear thereof and a lens sealed onthe front to close the cavity and substantially; prevent the admission of moisture therein, an incandescent lamp assembly having a smooth cylindrical base freel insertable in said opening for adjustment relative to the reflector, said base extendin through and beyond said opening for cooperation with a socket part, moisture sealing means retaining the base in its adjusted position in said opening to form a substantially hermetically sealed one-piece lighting unit, a fixed contact on the outer end of the base for supplying electric current to the lamp when the socket part is attached thereto, insulating means within said base for fixedly supporting the contact, said base and insulating means having on their outer surfaces corresponding inwardly projecting grooves cooperating one with the other to prevent relative movement between the base and said insulating material and for attachment of said socket part, said grooves comprising a guiding part beginning at the end of the base and disposed substantially longitudinally thereof, a rearwardly extending groove spaced therefrom and an intermediate arcuate groove connecting the inner ends of said longitudinal grooves, and cylindrical socket means having a spring-mounted insulated contact including an electric wire attached thereto and inwardly projecting pins for cooperation with said grooves to removably hold the socket in position on said base and said removable contact in alinement with and bearing upon said fixed contact mounted in the base.

LORIN W. CURTIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,829,475 Cushing Oct. 27, 1931 2,121,260 Phillips June 21, 1938 2,139,374 Michel Oct. 9, 1938 2,253,616 Falge Aug. 26, 1941 2,317,035 Dana Apr. 20, 1943 2,327,144 Stam Aug. 17, 1943 

